Central stenosis involves narrowing of which structure?

Central stenosis involves narrowing of which structure?

• A. Spinal Canal
• B. Intervertebral Foramen
• C. Thecal Sac
• D. Lateral Recess

Answer: (A)

Central stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal, the hollow vertical passage that houses the spinal cord or cauda equina. When this canal narrows due to degenerative changes like disc bulge, ligamentum flavum thickening, or osteophytes, the neural elements inside are compressed, leading to symptoms such as neurogenic claudication in the lumbar region or myelopathy with cervical stenosis. This distinguishes it from foraminal stenosis, which is narrowing of the intervertebral foramen where the nerve roots exit; the lateral recess is a separate region that can also be narrowed. While the thecal sac sits inside the canal and can be compressed by canal narrowing, the structure that is narrowed in central stenosis is the spinal canal itself.

Central stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal, the hollow vertical passage that houses the spinal cord or cauda equina. When this canal narrows due to degenerative changes like disc bulge, ligamentum flavum thickening, or osteophytes, the neural elements inside are compressed, leading to symptoms such as neurogenic claudication in the lumbar region or myelopathy with cervical stenosis. This distinguishes it from foraminal stenosis, which is narrowing of the intervertebral foramen where the nerve roots exit; the lateral recess is a separate region that can also be narrowed. While the thecal sac sits inside the canal and can be compressed by canal narrowing, the structure that is narrowed in central stenosis is the spinal canal itself.